Vermont Grazing & Livestock Conference to Take Place January 19-20 and Focus on “Feeding the Northeast”

Livestock farmers, agriculture professionals, supporters, and eaters are invited to connect around great food, protecting natural resources, and building community through two days of learning together in January.

The 22nd Annual Grazing & Livestock Conference will take place at Lake Morey Resort, January 19 & 20, 2018. The event includes an all-day focused workshop series on communication and marketing, a keynote address, farming workshops designed with both beginners and experts in mind, and lots of time for farmers and agriculture professionals to connect with and learn from each other. The conference typically brings more than 300 people together over two days, from six Northeast states and Canada.

The event takes place in a time where farmers and communities are considering how to address the complex issues they face – farm viability, environmental degradation, personal and community health, and ethical issues like the treatment of animals. All of these are part of the larger discussion around livestock farming, and are topics that attendees will be invited to engage in.

Keynote speaker Diana Rodgers, RD says, “At a time when many in the health and environmental fields call for a world without meat, [my keynote] ‘Kale vs. Cow’ makes the case for better meat—and shows how eliminating animals from our food system could cause more harm than good.” Besides delivering the keynote address of the conference, Ms. Rodgers will also offer a two-part workshop on Marketing and Customer Engagement on January 19.

Ms. Rodgers will be joined by Kate Stillman of Stillman Quality Meats, Heather Sandford of The Piggery, Blake and Blaine Hitzfield of Seven Sons Farm, and more than 20 additional speakers at the event hosted by the Vermont Grass Farmers Association and coordinated by the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Topics range from grazing fundamentals for beginning farmers, to a panel discussion about beef genetics for grazing operations, to better understanding what lies down the Connecticut River in Long Island Sound. Special sessions this year will focus on farmer stress management and Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices.

“Every year, we plan so that brand-new farmers will be able to come learn about the basics of grass farming, and experienced graziers can get access to the latest research and recommendations. Attendees at all levels tell us every year that they learn new things and go home with fresh ideas to test out,” says Conference Coordinator Jenn Colby. “And this year is a special opportunity to invite non-farmers who would like to better understand how food choices connect to human health, thriving farms, and clean water.”

For more information about attending or about taking part in the tradeshow, contact Cheryl Herrick at 802-656-5459 or cheryl.herrick@uvm.edu.

If you require a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please let Cheryl Herrick, (802) 656-5459 know by January 4, 2018 so we may assist you.

About UVM Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture

The Pasture Program is a core activity of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Established in 1994, the Center provides timely information to Vermont communities and the UVM campus. Center staff conduct innovative research, support the development of promising practices, cultivate partnership, and inform policy to advance sustainable food and farming systems

University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

PUBLISHED

12-21-2017

Cheryl Herrick

The event takes place in a time where farmers and communities are considering how to address the complex issues they face – farm viability, environmental degradation, personal and community health, and ethical issues like the treatment of animals. All of these are part of the larger discussion around livestock farming, and are topics that attendees will be invited to engage in.